US International Film & Video Festival celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. It was born as U.S. Industrial Film and Video Festival in 1967 in Chicago. In the early days of film, Chicago was bigger in the industrial and documentary film business than Hollywood, and competitions began to pop up. Not all lasted, but USIFVF has. The competition gave its initial awards in 1968 and has been held continuously since.

US International Film & Video Festival (nicknamed FilmFest) remains independently owned in a field dominated by industry-sponsored competitions. The Festival offers five mini-competitions in one, recognizing outstanding Corporate, Education, Entertainment, Documentary and Student productions.

Gone are the requirements for “16mm industrial motion pictures and 35 mm filmstrips,” replaced by the convenience of today’s digital world. Entries are submitted online, and judges, with only a few exceptions, do their assessments online.

Since 2001, USIFVF has operated from Los Angeles, but it still has the original mission: “to recognize quality work produced for industry, associations, government, religious or education organizations whose purpose is to inform, motivate, stimulate or educate an audience.”

### OUR JUDGING PROCESS HELPS SET US APART

Entries are judged against peers, meaning Corporate competes with Corporate, Education against Education, and so on. Entries are reviewed on their own merit. We hope for winners in each category, but don’t require them. As a result, the top award in a category is not necessarily a Gold Camera, but may be a Silver Screen or Certificate for Creative Excellence winner. Conversely, more than one Gold, Silver or Certificate may be awarded in a category.

Decisions about winners are based on both effectiveness and creativity by judges located around the world. As an independent company, we feel no corporate pressure to change that system.

We also showcase winners in awards presentations held in many countries. This past year’s top winners were shown to groups in The Philippines, France, Switzerland, Japan, and Austria.

### WHY ENTER

- Gain recognition and prestige in an International film/video/digital production industry
- Gain new clients by showcasing award-winning work
- Be part of an international competition with an international jury
- Get your film seen by a panel of seasoned industry professionals
- Expand your company’s reputation to draw new clients
- Build internal company pride and motivation
- Enjoy publicity and accolades on our website and social media, in media releases and in worldwide award presentations
- Relish good old-fashioned “bragging rights” when you win!

### TYPES OF ENTRIES INVITED

We accept productions that are created for all the different kinds of venues available around the world that are evolving so rapidly from the traditional to the non-traditional.

Awards & Prizes

> First-Place Gold Camera Statuette

> Second-Place Silver Screen Statuette

> Third-Place Certificate for Creative Excellence

> Student Award Certificate

> Best of Festival (Grand Prix) Awards
Presented to an outstanding entry from among the Gold Camera winners in each production type. These winners are selected by members of the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ), a fifty year old global peer network of production company owners.

> One World Award
Honors a production that demonstrates international cooperation and global understanding. The Award is sponsored and presented by the International Quorum of Motion Picture Producers (IQ), which seeks to support and improve international communications. Established in 1966. IQ has administrative headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Rules & Terms

### GENERAL INFORMATION

Entry Fees: Entry fees must be paid in US Dollars at the time of entry. Judging results will not be released until all fees are paid in full.

Entry Confirmation: Acknowledgment will be emailed to all entrants within 48 hours of receipt of entry.

Duplication of Entries: Entrants agree to allow entries to be duplicated for judging purposes and to permit winning entries to be displayed to public audiences and/or shown on television for promotion and publicity purposes with entrant assuming any union fees or talent residuals and all rights issues related to the production, if applicable. Winning entries will be retained by the Festival Library for promotional and educational use.

Judging Results: Results will be emailed to all entrants in May 2017. Judging results cannot be released unless entry fees are paid in full.

Withdrawing an Entry: An entry may be withdrawn within 24 hours of finalization (subject to a $100 processing fee; see Refund Policy). Entry withdrawal requests must be received via email to KristenSzabo@filmfestawards.com within 24 hours of finalization.

Refund Policy: Refunds are only issued for entries withdrawn within 24 hours of finalization.

Privacy Statement: Available at http://filmfestawards.com/pdfs/Film_Festival_Privacy_Policy.pdf

Production Release Dates: Entries must have been produced or released between September 1, 2015, and March 1, 2017, and cannot have previously been submitted into the Festival.

Eligible Submission Formats: Entries must be submitted in one of the following formats:
- Video File Upload
- URL (e.g., Vimeo, YouTube, etc. URL must be a fully functioning webpage, with embedded video playback where applicable. URLs for direct file downloads are not accepted.)
- DVD, NTSC or PAL, Region 1 or 0

Language: Entries must be submitted in English, or have English subtitles.

Multiple Entries: The same production may be entered into different Categories and/or Production Types. Each entry will be considered a separate entry and will require additional submission materials and entry fees.

Student Entries: Students may enter individual or group work done for a class project, an internship as spec work or for a client as long as the student is not a paid employee in the film industry. All Festival Rules & Regulations, Entry Material Requirements, Categories, Payment and Shipping instructions apply to Student entrants. A photocopy of the entrant's valid Student ID must be e-mailed to the Festival Office to: KristenSzabo@filmfestawards.com. Winning Student entries receive a "Student Award" Certificate.

Liability: The Festival assumes no responsibility for productions submitted in the incorrect category. Reasonable care will be exercised to protect entries from damage or loss. The Festival, its management and judging committees cannot assume liability.

### SCORING/JUDGING GUIDELINES
All productions are scored on multiple criteria, including:
- How well the production meets its objectives and its intended audience
- Production Approach
- Concept / Writing
- Craft /Techniques

### DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS

Award Statuettes and Certificates: Awards will be engraved / printed and presented to the name of the "Entrant Company" as listed in the entry credits, NOT to the name of the entrant contact. Personalized duplicates, in individual names, can be purchased once judging results have been released. Awards are shipped at the entrant's expense beginning in July 2017.

Duplicate Awards: Duplicate awards for any year may be purchased at any time. Duplicates can be personalized in an individual's name as long as the person was credited to the entry.